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Dynamic Meteorology 9

This document discusses scale analysis of the equations of motion in meteorology. [1] It explains how scale analysis allows us to simplify equations by identifying important and unimportant terms based on typical scales of atmospheric variables. [2] The geostrophic approximation balances the pressure gradient force and Coriolis force, relating horizontal wind to pressure gradients. [3] Geostrophic wind blows parallel to isobars, perpendicular to the pressure gradient.

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Harish Choudhary
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66 views16 pages

Dynamic Meteorology 9

This document discusses scale analysis of the equations of motion in meteorology. [1] It explains how scale analysis allows us to simplify equations by identifying important and unimportant terms based on typical scales of atmospheric variables. [2] The geostrophic approximation balances the pressure gradient force and Coriolis force, relating horizontal wind to pressure gradients. [3] Geostrophic wind blows parallel to isobars, perpendicular to the pressure gradient.

Uploaded by

Harish Choudhary
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Dynamic Meteorology

Lecture 9:
Scale Analysis of Equations of motion
Geostrophic Approximation

21-11-2022
The equation representing the conservation of momentum in the
atmosphere in a rotating reference frame in vectorial form is
given by:
Scale Analysis of the Equations of Motion

The atmosphere is a complex system capable of supporting many


different types of motion from small turbulent eddies to large weather
systems.
In order to make the theoretical study of a particular system easier,
we can simplify our approach by knowing which scales (time as
well as length/spatial scales) are important in the driving
mechanisms of that system.

This allows us to determine whether we can ignore some of the


processes that are happening at different scales.

Scales of a particular type of system is determined from the


measurement of magnitudes of important atmospheric variables,
such as pressure, wind speed, air temperature, mixing ratio, etc.
From these we can determine the amplitude and typical distances
over which they occur.

‘The process of simplifying the governing equations using typical


scales of variables for the phenomenon of interest is called scale
analysis’.

Scale analysis allows us to estimate the magnitude of the terms


in our equations and determine terms that are important and
terms that may be neglected for a particular scale of motion.

This help simplify our equations by removing unimportant terms as


well as help filter certain types of unwanted motion from the
equations.
The variation in pressure (δp) is normalized by density (ρ)
such that δp/ρ is approximately constant with height in the
atmosphere despite the large change in p and ρ in the vertical
direction.

The time scale (L/U) is an advective time scale and represents


the time required for a weather system to move distance L
assuming that the system is moving at the same speed as
the wind (U).

The vertical wind scale (W) is difficult to measure for mid-latitude


weather systems, but can be estimated based on the
horizontal winds.
Applying this scaling to the horizontal components of the
equations of motion gives:

The friction terms are many orders of magnitude smaller than all
of the other terms in the equations and can be neglected with
minimal error.

The two largest terms are the pressure gradient force and the
Coriolis force. These terms are in approximate balance, within an
error of ~10%.
Geostrophic approximation

Using the scale analysis of horizontal components of momentum


equation, we can equate the two largest terms, the pressure gradient
force and the Coriolis force. i.e.,

We call this set of equations the geostrophic approximation for


mid-latitude weather systems.

This relationship is a diagnostic relationship – i.e., it cannot be used


to predict changes over time (i.e. it is not a prognostic relationship).
We can define a horizontal velocity field called geostrophic wind
that satisfies the force balance between the pressure gradient
force and the Coriolis force.
ug = −
1 ∂p 1 ∂ p
vg =
ρ f ∂y ρ f ∂x
In the vectorial form, geostrophic wind can be written as

Vg can be evaluated for any pressure field, but will most closely
approximate the actual wind for mid-latitude synoptic weather systems.

It will be within 10-15% of the actual wind for mid-latitude systems.


What is the direction of the geostrophic wind relative to the
pressure field ?

Geostrophic flow is parallel to isobars, or in other words,


the flow is perpendicular to the gradient of pressure.
In presence of viscous/friction forces, surface winds are typically
smaller in magnitude and changes in direction toward low
pressure.
As the flow speed increases under the influence of increased
pressure gradient, the Coriolis force also will increase and thus try
to maintain the geostrophic balance.

Geostrophic winds can be expected only above ~1000 m, usually


above the boundary layer (~ 1 to 3 km).

The existence of a fluid flow along the isobars, rather than towards
areas of low pressure, is characteristic of atmospheric flows, and in
contrast to the situation for fluid flow in a non-rotating framework.
The geostrophic wind speed (Vg) depends on the pressure gradient
(Δp/d), the reciprocal of the air density (ρ) and the Coriolis parameter
(f) that depends on latitude.
A balance should exist between the pressure gradient force and the
.

Coriolis force. This is called geostrophic balance, and the wind in this
state is called the geostrophic wind

We can see how this would come about by considering the


hypothetical situation in which a parcel of air starts from rest in a
“frozen” atmosphere with an applied pressure field.
L P

P . Vg

P
. H
C Here, P is the pressure

P
. C
C gradient force acting
perpendicular to the

. O
isobars and towards
lower pressure.
At the origin (point O) the parcel starts from rest and moves
towards lower pressure under the influence of the pressure
gradient.

As soon as the parcel acquires a velocity, a Coriolis force acts


to deviate it to the right.

This continues until a state of balance exists when the


pressure gradient force P and the Coriolis force C are equal in
magnitude and directly opposed one another.

Inspection of the diagram shows that this can only be the case when
the wind is directed along the isobars.
Geostrophic wind is non-accelerated; isobars should be straight.

Since upper air weather maps are often presented as constant


pressure maps it is useful to rewrite the equations for the
geostrophic wind expressed on a constant pressure surface.
Approximate Prognostic Equations – The Rossby number
The acceleration term (D/Dt) is also called inertial term.

When Ro is evaluated for a particular type of weather system, it


can give the importance of Coriolis force in the development of the
wind field.

Rossby number for different weather systems:

Ro << 1: Synoptic scale weather systems

Ro ~ 1: Cyclones

Ro > 1: Tornadoes

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